SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

FORM: In the third person singular the verb always ends in -s:

 Verbs ending in -y : the third person changes the -y to -ies:

fly --> flies, cry --> cries
Exception: if there is a vowel before the -y:
play --> plays, pray --> prays
 Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -s, -z, -x, -sh, -ch, -tch:
he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes

USE EXAMPLE
1. HABITUAL ACTIONS (+adverbs such as: My mother usually goes to market on Sunday
often, usually, never, always, every day, in the mornings.
morning, on Sundays, etc.) I never get up late (in the morning).
2. GENERAL TRUTHS or characteristics The Earth moves round the sun.
A tailor makes clothes.
3. MOMENTARY ACTIONS completed Bill gets out of bed, comes downstage a bit and
almost at the same time they are performed (in stands attentively.
contexts such as: cooking, demonstrations,
stage directions, headlines, TV commentaries)
4. PLANNED FUTURE ACTIONS when the Our winter holidays begin on December 22nd.
future action is considered part of an already I leave Bucharest at 8 a.m. and arrive in Brasov
fixed programme (with verbs of motion: come, at 11 a.m.
go, leave or verbs expressing planned activity:
begin, start, end, finish. The adverbials
indicating future time are obligatory)
5. in TEMPORAL AND CONDITIONAL Have something to eat before you go.
CLAUSES when there is a If you don’t hurry we shall be late.
future/present/imperative in the main clause
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

FORM: The present continuous of any verb is composed of two parts - the present tense of the
verb to be + the present participle of the main verb.

USE EXAMPLE
1. an action happening at the moment of The wind is blowing.
speaking (the action has duration and is not I am not wearing a coat as it isn’t cold
complete)
2. an action that extends over a (slightly) I am reading a novel by John Fowels.
longer period of time,including the time of Mother is knitting a pullover for me.
speaking
3. a temporary, limited action/behavior (+ and I live in Brasov but I am living in Bucharest
adverbial indicating present time) this year.
You are being naughty.
4. one’s immediate plans for the near future We are going to the cinema tonight.
(the time of the action must be mentioned)
5. a frequently repeated action which annoys Ann is always doing her homework.
the speaker (the time of the action must be They are complaining about their neighbours
mentioned) all the time.
6. in subordinate clauses (temporal/conditional We’ll go for a walk while the baby is sleeping.
clauses)

VERBS THAT ARE NOT USUALLY USED IN THE CONTINUOUS FORM

The verbs in the list below are normally used in the simple form because they refer to states,
rather than actions or processes.

SENSES / PERCEPTION OPINION

 to feel*  to assume
 to hear  to believe
 to see*  to consider
 to smell  to doubt
 to taste  to feel (= to think)
 to find (= to consider)
 to suppose
 to think*
MENTAL STATES EMOTIONS / DESIRES

 to forget  to envy
 to imagine  to fear
 to know  to dislike
 to mean  to hate
 to notice  to hope
 to recognise  to like
 to remember  to love
 to understand  to mind
 to prefer
 to regret
 to want
 to wish

MEASUREMENT OTHERS

 to contain  to look (=resemble)

 to cost  to seem
 to hold  to be (in most cases)
 to measure  to have(when it means "to possess")*
 to weigh

EXCEPTIONS
Perception verbs (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) are often used with can: I can see... These verbs
may be used in the continuous form but with a different meaning

 This coat feels nice and warm. (your perception of the coat's qualities)
 John's feeling much better now (his health is improving)
 She has three dogs and a cat. (possession)
 She's having supper. (She's eating)
 I can see Anthony in the garden (perception)
 I'm seeing Anthony later (We are planning to meet)

! When the verb ends with a silent e, drop the e and add -ing:

 make becomes making

take becomes taking
 For short, one-syllable verbs, that end with consonant + vowel + consonant (CVC), we
must double the last consonant and then add -ing:

 swim becomes swimming

run becomes running

 For words that end w, x and y, do not double the last consonant; just add -ing:

 enjoy becomes enjoying

study becomes studying

 When words have two or more syllables ending in CVC, you must double the
last consonant if the last syllable is stressed. When the last syllable is not stressed, just
add -ing.

 The last syllable is stressed:

commit becomes committing

 The last syllable is not stressed:

whisper becomes whispering

 For verbs that end in -ie, change the ie to y before adding -ing:

 die becomes dying

SIMPLE PRESENT OR PRESENT CONTINUOUS?

I. Put the verbs in brackets into the proper form

1. Victor …………. in Brasov. At present he ………….. in Bucharest. (live)

2. The wind …………..hard outside. It often …………….. hard in autumn. (blow)

3. The play………. now. Plays on TV always …………… at 8.15 p.m. (begin)

4. It (get) colder and colder. Winter (come).

5. Mr. Brad (write) historical novels. Now he (write) a novel about Blad the Impaler. I (look
forward) to reading it.

6. Monica (try) to finish her work early today. She (go) to the theatre in the evening.

7. I sometimes (forget) to take my keys when I (leave) the house.

8. We (spend) this week on the coast; we (enjoy) ourselves very much.

9. Every morning I (get up) early. On Sunday mornings I (sleep) late.

10. I (plan) to buy a bicycle soon.

11. Today I (not read) the newspaper that I usually (read).

12. The Romanians (celebrate) their national holiday on December 1st.

13. On my way to school I usually (meet) many people who (go) to work.

14. Our neighbours (always, interfere) in other people’s affairs!

15. When it (rain) people usually (stay) indoors.

16. The sun (rise) in the east and (set) in the west.

17. He always (lose) his temper if you (try) to argue with him.

18. I will wait until you (come).

19. It (be) a fine spring day. The sun (shine) and it’s light breeze (blow). Mrs. Grant (walk)
in the park with her daughter Laura. Laura (see) a flower, (bend) and (pick) it up.

20. “This is our itinerary. We (leave) home on the 4th, (arrive) in Suceava on the 5th, (spend)
the day in Suceava and (set out) the next day to visit the famous monasteries in the area.